Cognitive approach

Cards (22)

  • What is the cognitive approach?

    Reintroduces the study of mental processes in a more scientific way that Wundt
  • What is the cognitive approach?
    The cognitive approach focuses on how people think, perceive, and process information.
  • When was the cognitive approach popular?
    1960s
  • What are the basic assumptions of the cognitive approach?

    Internal mental processes can, and should, be studied scientifically
  • What is an inference in cognitive psychology?

    Conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
  • What is a schema?
    A cognitive framework or mental structure that helps organize and interpret information.
  • What are internal mental processes?
    Information received from our senses is processed by the brain and how we process it affects how we behave
  • What is perception?
    The process by which we take in/ make sense of images
  • What is inattention?
    An internal mental process which explains why we miss out on details
  • What are the pros of schemas?
    Helps to take shortcuts in thinking
  • What are the cons of schemas?
    Can lead to faulty conclusions and unhelpful behaviour
  • What were the conclusions of Bartlett’s study?

    Memory is reconstructive and influenced by schemas.
  • What are the issues of Bartlett’s study?

    There are no standardised procedures as it was not scientific and was a lab study so lacks ecological validity
  • What are theoretical models?

    Abstract representations of real-world phenomena used to understand, explain, and predict behavior.
  • What are computer models?

    Concrete programmes to process information
  • What is the information processing model?

    Describes how we input, process and output information
  • What is cognitive neuroscience?

    The study of the living brain and other biological processes which allow us to have detailed information about our brain structures and mental and cognitive processes which form our behaviour
  • When was cognitive neuroscience popular?

    2000s (when technology progressed)
  • How does cognitive neuroscience research happen?

    Non-invasive neuroimaging (e.g. fMRI) to show what parts of our brain become active in specific circumstances
  • What is brain mapping?

    Measures brainwaves when stimuli are presented
  • What are the strengths of the cognitive approach?
    Real-life application, credible as uses experimental methods to research (in lab experiments)
  • What are the weaknesses of the cognitive approach?

    Lacks external validity as studies are usually in labs, based on machine reductionism so ignores influences of human emotions (objections)